Computer Bytes - No. 70 Bookmark this page !       Send this page to a friend!  " What's the difference between my computer's clipboard and its cache? While both of these terms define a computer storage function, they are different in what they do and how they do it. The clipboard is used for short-term storage and the transferring of data within a program or from one program to another. The clipboard is located in the computer's RAM (Random Access Memory). Every time you copy something - text, image, file or other data - the selected portion to be copied is placed in the clipboard. Once placed there, this data can be 'pasted' into another program or document. Typically both the 'copy' and 'paste' function can be found in the Edit menu of a program. The key strokes Control + C (copy) and Control + V (paste) can also be used, however, using the functions inside the program are safer. Using the copy function to place data in the clipboard allows you to copy an image from one source and place it in a graphics program to edit, or you can copy a Web address from an email to paste into the address bar using the 'open new' tab or window feature. Data copied to the clipboard is written over each time you copy new data. And, since the data is stored in RAM, the last data copied will be lost should you restart or shut down your computer. The clipboard should not be used for anything other than a one-time copy/store function. Any data of importance should be saved in a file for future use. Unlike the short-term, non-permanent clipboard, the cache stores and keeps recently used Internet information for fast access. There are many types of cache (pronounced like 'cash') but they all provide the same service. For example: If you use the browser Internet Explorer, all pages, URLs and images you have recently visited will be stored in the cache on your computer's hard drive. This means that the next time you visit that particular page, URL or image, it will not have to be downloaded to your computer again - it's already there. This significantly speeds up accessing your favorites on the Net. If you visit a lot of sites on the Internet, you may find your computer slowing down. Should this be the case, next time you run your maintenance programs you may want to empty the cache. How often you need to do this will depend on the size of your computer's RAM. Computer Bytes Index Send Us an Email | Home Page Copyright 2007-2008. All rights reserved. Computer Bytes articles may not be reprinted, published, quoted, copied, or used in any manner whatsoever without the expressed written permission of David Moncrief.